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Green design & eco innovation for a better worldTue, 31 Mar 2015 19:01:05 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1Britain names Pitcairn Island as center of world’s largest marine reservehttp://inhabitat.com/britain-names-pitcairn-island-as-center-of-worlds-largest-marine-reserve/
http://inhabitat.com/britain-names-pitcairn-island-as-center-of-worlds-largest-marine-reserve/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 21:21:15 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=730077When it comes to protecting marine life, Britain is going big. The announced plans earlier this week to create what will be the world’s largest fully protected marine reserve that would cover an area of the Pacific Ocean nearly area of France and Germany]]>

When it comes to protecting marine life, Britain is going big. After announcing in February it was considering several locations for preservation, the government revealed plans earlier this week to create what will be the world’s largest fully-protected marine reserve, covering an area of the Pacific Ocean nearly the size of France and Germany combined.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/britain-names-pitcairn-island-as-center-of-worlds-largest-marine-reserve/feed/0Biophotovoltaic Moss Table Generates Electricity Through Photosynthesishttp://inhabitat.com/moss-table-by-biophotovoltaics-generates-electricity-through-photosynthesis/
http://inhabitat.com/moss-table-by-biophotovoltaics-generates-electricity-through-photosynthesis/#commentsSat, 14 Mar 2015 16:15:23 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=378177What if your lamp and laptop could be powered by plants? Biophotovoltaics' Moss Table is an innovative furnishing that demonstrates the future potential of Bio-Photo-Voltaic (BPV) technology. Here electricity is generated from the electrons captured by conductive]]>

What if your lamp and laptop could be powered by plants? Biophotovoltaics‘ Moss Table is an innovative furnishing that demonstrates the future potential of Bio-Photo-Voltaic (BPV) technology. Here electricity is generated from the electrons captured by conductive fibers inside the moss table. The technology turns energy that would otherwise be wasted in the photosynthesis process into power that can be put to practical use.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/moss-table-by-biophotovoltaics-generates-electricity-through-photosynthesis/feed/12Could shrimp shells help make solar power affordable for everyone?http://inhabitat.com/solar-cells-of-the-future-may-be-made-from-shrimp-shells/
http://inhabitat.com/solar-cells-of-the-future-may-be-made-from-shrimp-shells/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:02:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=724228Researchers from Queen Mary University of London's School of Engineering and Materials Science have used hydrothermal carbonization to create carbon quantum dots for solar cells from chitin and chitosan, chemicals that can easily and cheaply be harvested from]]>

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London’s School of Engineering and Materials Science have come up with a low-cost solar cell made from discarded shrimp shells. Current solar cells are produced from ruthenium and other highly expensive metals, so the shrimp shell approach could provide a very unexpected but helpful solution to the high cost of solar power, which has traditionally been the major barrier to its mass adoption.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/solar-cells-of-the-future-may-be-made-from-shrimp-shells/feed/0New study finds Great Barrier Reef corals eat plastic pollutionhttp://inhabitat.com/new-study-finds-great-barrier-reef-corals-eat-plastic-pollution/
http://inhabitat.com/new-study-finds-great-barrier-reef-corals-eat-plastic-pollution/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 22:34:30 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=725189One creature's trash may be another creature's lunch, according to new research out of James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, that suggests some Great Barrier Reef corals eat plastic pollution. While researchers work to determine the affect these]]>

One creature’s trash may be another creature’s lunch, according to new research out of James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, which suggests that some Great Barrier Reef corals eat plastic pollution. While researchers continue to study the affect these microplastics could have on coral and marine health, the reefs will likely keep on eating, and thereby cleaning up, our mess.

Those little seashells loitering on your bathroom shelf are hiding quite a secret—at least, their teeth are. According to a new study from the University of Portsmouth, the strongest material found in nature is the tooth of a tiny sea creature. The aquatic, snail-like creatures’ millimeter-long teeth feature a biological structure so strong that it could provide us with a way to build tougher cars and planes in the future.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/scientists-discover-the-worlds-strongest-natural-material/feed/0China needs to cut pollution by at least half to make any environmental improvementshttp://inhabitat.com/china-needs-to-cut-pollution-by-at-least-half-to-make-any-environmental-improvements/
http://inhabitat.com/china-needs-to-cut-pollution-by-at-least-half-to-make-any-environmental-improvements/#commentsWed, 18 Feb 2015 11:00:43 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=722393
China’s environment can’t improve to at least half of it’s pollution is cut. With an economy growing at a breakneck speed, China’s need for power and transportation can’t keep up. The answer has been to create power in any way possible,]]>

According to a recent announcement by the Chinese government, the country needs to cut its emissions by as much as half before it can see any serious environmental improvements. Reuters reports that China’s deputy minister of environmental protection Zhai Qing told a briefing over the weekend that pollutants have been cut only “a few percentage points” since 2006, and much more is needed before any progress can be made.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/china-needs-to-cut-pollution-by-at-least-half-to-make-any-environmental-improvements/feed/0Grand Canyon’s first grey wolf in 70 years killed by coyote hunterhttp://inhabitat.com/sad-but-true-grand-canyon-wolf-echo-killed-by-coyote-hunter/
http://inhabitat.com/sad-but-true-grand-canyon-wolf-echo-killed-by-coyote-hunter/#commentsSat, 14 Feb 2015 06:38:04 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=721991She was the first grey wolf seen in the Grand Canyon in 70 years, having traveled 500 miles from her home to the majestic Arizona canyon, and now she’s gone. Known as “Echo,” the lone grey wolf is confirmed to be the same creature killed by a hunter]]>

She was the first grey wolf seen in the Grand Canyon in 70 years, having traveled 500 miles from her home to the majestic Arizona canyon, and now she’s gone. Known as “Echo,” the lone grey wolf is confirmed to be the same creature killed by a hunter in Utah in December. He reportedly mistook her for a coyote.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/sad-but-true-grand-canyon-wolf-echo-killed-by-coyote-hunter/feed/38World’s largest lake has an algal bloom so massive it can be seen from spacehttp://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-lake-has-an-algal-bloom-so-massive-it-can-be-seen-from-space/
http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-lake-has-an-algal-bloom-so-massive-it-can-be-seen-from-space/#commentsFri, 13 Feb 2015 13:00:22 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=721603New images show an algal bloom in the Caspian sea that's so big it can be seen from space. The recently released images taken by South Korea’s Kompsat-2 satellite in 2012 show green waters in a shallow northern section of the sea, known as the Vogel Delta,]]>

New images show an algal bloom in the Caspian sea that’s so big it can be seen from space. The recently released images taken by South Korea’s Kompsat-2 satellite in 2012 show green waters in a shallow northern section of the sea, known as the Vogel Delta, which indicate an algal bloom is happening there. According to the European Space Agency, high levels of phosphorus, such as those found in fertilizers, detergents and unfiltered sewage, cause algal blooms such as this. Once they take hold, algal blooms deplete oxygen levels and can choke our other important forms of life such as the sturgeon that live in the Caspian Sea.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-lake-has-an-algal-bloom-so-massive-it-can-be-seen-from-space/feed/0Casa MMMMMS is a beautiful solar-powered Catalan stone house in Spainhttp://inhabitat.com/casa-mmmmms-is-a-beautiful-solar-powered-catalan-stone-house-in-spain/
http://inhabitat.com/casa-mmmmms-is-a-beautiful-solar-powered-catalan-stone-house-in-spain/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2015 06:00:28 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=720315The exterior of the house is dominated by a canopy which offers shade, views and creates a central space for the house, while pertaining to its exterior. The large volume of the house has smaller units-bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms are places in "boxes"]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/casa-mmmmms-is-a-beautiful-solar-powered-catalan-stone-house-in-spain/feed/0This sea slug steals genes from algae so it can photosynthesize like a planthttp://inhabitat.com/this-sea-slug-steals-genes-from-algae-so-it-can-photosynthesize-like-a-plant/
http://inhabitat.com/this-sea-slug-steals-genes-from-algae-so-it-can-photosynthesize-like-a-plant/#commentsMon, 09 Feb 2015 22:58:16 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=720163Scientists have confirmed for the first time that one extraordinary species of sea slug 'steals' genes from the algae it eats, which enables it to photosythesize like a plant and gain energy from sunlight. This exceptionally weird phenomenon is one of the]]>

Scientists have confirmed for the first time that one extraordinary species of sea slug ‘steals’ genes from the algae it eats, which enables it to photosynthesize like a plant and gain energy from sunlight. This exceptionally weird phenomenon is one of the only examples of inter-species gene transfer, and it could lend us clues for future research into gene therapy techniques.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/this-sea-slug-steals-genes-from-algae-so-it-can-photosynthesize-like-a-plant/feed/0DIY: How to brew kombucha at homehttp://inhabitat.com/diy-how-to-brew-kombucha-at-home/
http://inhabitat.com/diy-how-to-brew-kombucha-at-home/#commentsSat, 31 Jan 2015 06:38:40 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=573675The first time I heard about kombucha was when a friend of mine sent me a picture of a strange, somewhat bubbly liquid that had a slimy film on top of it. I asked if she was planning to put any of that in her mouth, and she reassured me that it wasn't just]]>

The first time I heard about kombucha was when a friend of mine sent me a picture of a strange, somewhat bubbly liquid that had a slimy film on top of it. I asked if she was planning to put any of that in her mouth, and she reassured me that it wasn’t just delicious, it was loaded with health benefits. It took months before I was prepared to try it, but it turns out that it really is quite fabulous, and it’s also easy to make at home—you need just a few simple ingredients, and enough patience to let things ferment for a couple of weeks.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/diy-how-to-brew-kombucha-at-home/feed/2VIDEO: How to Make an Edible Terrarium Snow Globehttp://inhabitat.com/video-how-to-make-an-edible-snow-globe/
http://inhabitat.com/video-how-to-make-an-edible-snow-globe/#commentsFri, 30 Jan 2015 15:35:57 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=710670To learn how to make an incredible DIY edible snow globe that will impress all of your friends at your next holiday party, read on....
YOU WILL NEED:
- 2 cups of coconut juice with coconut bits (can be substituted with another juice or beverage of your]]>

To learn how to make an incredible DIY edible snow globe that will impress all of your friends at your next holiday party, read on….

]]>http://inhabitat.com/video-how-to-make-an-edible-snow-globe/feed/0Dramatic decline in population of Lake Tahoe’s tiniest creatures is changing the entire ecosystemhttp://inhabitat.com/dramatic-decline-in-population-of-lake-tahoes-tiniest-creatures-is-changing-the-entire-ecosystem/
http://inhabitat.com/dramatic-decline-in-population-of-lake-tahoes-tiniest-creatures-is-changing-the-entire-ecosystem/#commentsFri, 23 Jan 2015 13:00:16 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=717748Lake Tahoe is world renowned for its dramatic natural beauty, but the attention it receives—and the pollution that comes with it—may play a role in the alarming decline in populations of small creatures that live at the bottom of the lake, The populations]]>

Lake Tahoe is world-renowned for its dramatic natural beauty, but the attention it receives—and the pollution that comes with it—may play a role in an alarming decline in the populations of small creatures that live at the bottom of the lake. Scientists recently discovered that Lake Tahoe’s populations of eight invertebrates, all smaller than a thumbnail, have declined anywhere from 55 to 99.9 percent since the 1960s. And while these critters might be small in size, the scientists say they play a huge role in the lake’s ecosystem and their disappearance could mean big changes are set to happen within it.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/dramatic-decline-in-population-of-lake-tahoes-tiniest-creatures-is-changing-the-entire-ecosystem/feed/0Boeing, Etihad, GE and MIST to build world’s first aquaculture and biofuel plant at Masdar Cityhttp://inhabitat.com/boeing-etihad-ge-and-mist-to-build-worlds-first-aquaculture-and-biofuel-plant-at-masdar-city/
http://inhabitat.com/boeing-etihad-ge-and-mist-to-build-worlds-first-aquaculture-and-biofuel-plant-at-masdar-city/#commentsTue, 20 Jan 2015 22:33:41 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=717123Traditionally, biofuels have a bad reputation for eating up precious land and water resources and pilfering food from the world's hungry. But a groundbreaking new bioenergy pilot plant at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi's growing clean energy hub and research institute,]]>

Biofuels have a bad reputation for eating up precious land and water resources, as well as pilfering food from the world’s hungry. But a groundbreaking new bioenergy pilot plant at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s growing clean energy hub and research institute, is pioneering a new paradigm. This desert plant that will be irrigated with seawater will make bioenergy and food production harmonious — perhaps for the first time in history.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/boeing-etihad-ge-and-mist-to-build-worlds-first-aquaculture-and-biofuel-plant-at-masdar-city/feed/0The Terroir Project transforms seaweed into sustainable chairs and lampshttp://inhabitat.com/the-terroir-project-transforms-seaweed-into-sustainable-chairs-and-lamps/
http://inhabitat.com/the-terroir-project-transforms-seaweed-into-sustainable-chairs-and-lamps/#commentsTue, 13 Jan 2015 16:00:44 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=715337In their new Terroir Project collection, designers Jonas Edvard and Nikolaj Steenfatt have created a line of sustainable furniture inspired by the ocean that's made from seaweed and paper. The pair, who graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts,]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/the-terroir-project-transforms-seaweed-into-sustainable-chairs-and-lamps/feed/0Revolutionary U.K. project is experimenting with algae to turn toxic mine waste into biofuelhttp://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-u-k-project-is-experimenting-with-algae-to-turn-toxic-mine-waste-into-biofuel/
http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-u-k-project-is-experimenting-with-algae-to-turn-toxic-mine-waste-into-biofuel/#commentsMon, 29 Dec 2014 18:00:34 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=712577Combining pollution cleanup, green energy, and recycling, a new project in the U.K. investigates the potential of using algae to clean up an old mine site, while producing both biofuels and metals for electronics at the same time. The Guardian reports]]>

Combining pollution cleanup, green energy, and recycling, a new project in the U.K. investigates the potential of using algae to clean up an old mine site, while producing both biofuels and metals for electronics at the same time. The Guardian reports that a pilot project to clean up the flooded Wheal Jane tin mine in Cornwall is being undertaken by a group of British universities, along with several other organizations operating under the title of the GW4 Alliance. Together, they’re taking untreated, heavy metal-laden mine water samples and using them to grow algae in a lab with the goal of discovering whether it’s possible to rid the water of harmful materials like arsenic and cadmium.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-u-k-project-is-experimenting-with-algae-to-turn-toxic-mine-waste-into-biofuel/feed/0Could these “wearable biospheres” help us survive on alien planets?http://inhabitat.com/could-these-wearable-biospheres-help-us-survive-on-alien-planets/
http://inhabitat.com/could-these-wearable-biospheres-help-us-survive-on-alien-planets/#commentsSun, 21 Dec 2014 18:01:27 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=711354Nothing says "fashion forward" like a living garment designed to help support human life in outer space, right?
MIT researchers and German designers teamed up to create these eye-catching 3D printed suits, intended to be packed with bacteria and algae.]]>

Nothing says “fashion forward” like a living garment designed to help support human life in outer space, right?

MIT researchers and German designers teamed up to create these eye-catching 3D printed suits, intended to be packed with bacteria and algae. The concept is that the suit could provide the critical elements necessary to sustain life. Instead of a bulky traditional spacesuit, an adventurous space dweller would don one of these “Wanderers” that feeds on sunlight or waste.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/could-these-wearable-biospheres-help-us-survive-on-alien-planets/feed/0‘Cooking With Mama’ Uses Skype and Unloved Vegetables to Whip Up Yummy Mealshttp://inhabitat.com/cooking-with-mama-uses-skype-and-unloved-vegetables-to-whip-up-yummy-meals/
http://inhabitat.com/cooking-with-mama-uses-skype-and-unloved-vegetables-to-whip-up-yummy-meals/#commentsSat, 06 Dec 2014 17:20:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=388265A year ago we showed you Prinzessinnengarten, a mobile urban garden that blooms in Berlin. Well, in addition to growing lots of organic vegetables, they also organize open events centered around food. Last week we were at 'Cooking With Mama', a social gathering]]>

A year ago we showed you Prinzessinnengarten, a mobile urban garden that blooms in Berlin. Well, in addition to growing lots of organic vegetables, they also organize open events centered around food. Last week we were at ‘Cooking With Mama‘, a social gathering where artist Hiwa K. cooked up vegetables leftover from local markets as he followed his Iraqi mum’s instructions via Skype!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/cooking-with-mama-uses-skype-and-unloved-vegetables-to-whip-up-yummy-meals/feed/0Acid Rain is Turning Canada’s Lakes Into Jellyhttp://inhabitat.com/acid-rain-is-turning-canadas-lakes-into-jelly/
http://inhabitat.com/acid-rain-is-turning-canadas-lakes-into-jelly/#commentsSat, 22 Nov 2014 09:01:11 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=704818You’d have to be living under a rock not to know that acid rain is a monumental problem, but these days, the consequences of industrialization are beyond anything we could have imagined. Toxic pollution has gotten so bad that several of Canada’s water]]>

You’d have to be living under a rock not to know that acid rain is a monumental problem, but these days, the consequences of industrialization are beyond anything we could have imagined. Toxic pollution has gotten so bad that several of Canada’s water bodies have turned into a gelatinous mess.

Meet a next-generation scientist making the next generation of biofuel. 17-year-old Sara Volz invented a process that increases the amount of biofuel produced by algae to win this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. The Colorado Springs student claimed the $100,000 grand prize with her project, which uses artificial selection to pinpoint which organisms are churning out the most fuel. This new method not only helps to bring down the overall cost of algae biofuel, but it was developed primarily in her bedroom under a lofted bed!